Leeds Art Fund

Following the success of the Leeds Art Fund's visit to Rococo Bavaria in 2012 we continue the theme of the glories of 18th century Germany. In 2014 we will explore the northern courts with their unparalleled architectural and artistic treasures. The visit will be led by James Lomax (Curator Emeritus, Temple Newsam and Chairman, LAF) accompanied by Alexandra Loske (University of Sussex) and Anthony Mills (Hon Treasurer, LAF). It will be moderately strenuous with some walking tours.

We travel from Yorkshire via Dover on the comfortable Britannia coach. After an overnight stop at Antwerp, and a brief visit to the Cathedral, we will spend two nights in the miraculously restored city of Hildesheim, looking at the spectacular baroque gardnes of Herrenhausen in Hanover, and to the special exhibition at the landesmuseum celebrating the 300th aniversary of the accession of the House of Hanover to the throne of Great Britain. We will explore the residence of the dukes of Brunswick at Wolfenbuttel before reaching Potsdam where we stay for three nights. A day will be given to the rococo palaces of Frederick the Great at Potsdam: the Neues Palais, Sanssouci, the Bildergalerie and other buildingsin the parks as well as the neo Classical Marmorpalais. At Charlottenburg we see the sumptuous earlier baroque style of Frederick I and of his mother at Oranienburg with its stunning displays of works of art. We move on to Dresden, stopping en route for a tour of the elegant Schloss Worlitz, in the 'garden kingdom' of the princes of Anhalt-Dessau. We spend three nights in Dresden, visiting the newly restored schloss with its great collections of the electors of Saxony and kings of Poland, including the Green Vaults, the zwinger and the Alte Pinacotek and Porcelain Museum. A visit will be made to Pillnitz to the Chinese Pavilion and tis museum of deocrative arts. Our journey continues via the magnificent Schloss Moritzburg with its feather bedroom, and to the Prince of Hesse's Wilhelmsthal to Bad Arolsen. Here we view the final mini Versailles of the Princes of Waldeck - Pyrmont before returning via Mechlen.

Cost: £1,574 sharing double/twin bedded rooms (single supp £450) to include all travel, accomodation in 4star hotels, porterage, 7 dinners (no lunches), admissions. A non returnable deposit of £250 is required by 17 February (balances by 27 June). Please send your cheque (payable to Leeds Art Fund) to Anthony Mills, Lark Hill, Linton Common, Linton, Wetherby LS22 4JD. Enquiries 01937 588041: lomax017@btinternet.com